Passengers slide out after American plane catches fire

An American Airlines flight was forced to abort takeoff due to a landing gear malfunction, triggering an emergency evacuation that sent passengers fleeing down inflatable slides as smoke filled the aircraft cabin. According to media reports, American Airlines Flight 1685, scheduled to fly to Charlotte, North Carolina, was accelerating down the runway when the crew noticed a "mechanical issue" related to the aircraft’s landing gear. Pilots halted the takeoff, and all 160 passengers and six crew members were quickly evacuated.AA-3023, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, was bound for Miami when the incident occurred. It suffered a maintenance issue with the tire, the airline said. Dramatic rescue footage showed the panic-stricken passengers sliding down from the plane while the landing gear was on fire. Smoke filled the entire area.

#BREAKING: Watch as People evacuate from a American Airlines jet after a left main wheels caught fire

#Denver | #Colorado

Watch as passengers and crew evacuate American Airlines Flight 3023, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, at Denver International Airport. The Miami-bound jet was forced… pic.twitter.com/RmUrXYj5Jp

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 26, 2025

Denver Airport, in a separate statement, said the incident occurred when the plane was already on the runway; the airport's First Responders and Denver Fire Department were alerted, and the passengers were evacuated. "Five people were evaluated on scene and not transported. One person was evaluated at a gate and was transported," they added. The Denver Fire Department announced around 5:10 pm that the fire had been extinguished.No injuries were reported, though several passengers were evaluated on-site for minor smoke inhalation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident.